New Details Emerge of ‘Severe Torture’ of Ismail Bakhshi; From Baton Blows to Administration of Psychiatric Drugs

A relative of Ismail Bakhshi, representative of Haft Tappeh sugar cane workers, has described details of torture inflicted on this worker during his detention by Iran’s security and judicial authorities, stating that he has been fired from work and denied the right to contact anyone.

A relative of Ismail Bakhshi, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told Shahid Alavi, a journalist, and contradicting reports of house arrest for Ismail Bakhshi, stated: “Conditions have been imposed on Ismail Bakhshi that prevent any contact with the outside world.”

Ismail Bakhshi, who was arrested on Sunday, November 18, during workers’ gatherings at Haft Tappeh sugar company in Shush, was finally released after 25 days on a bail of 400 million tomans.

Although approximately two weeks have passed since Ismail Bakhshi’s release, there was no precise information about this worker’s condition. However, based on an audio file released, a relative of Ismail Bakhshi announced that he was subjected to the most severe torture during his detention.

Previously, reports had been published about torture of Ismail Bakhshi and Sepideh Qolian, a civil rights activist, during their detention.

As more details of Ismail Bakhshi’s torture during detention and interrogation are being released, reports of torture in Iran’s detention facilities are not unprecedented. A matter that has sometimes resulted in the death of detainees in protest, yet Iran’s judicial and law enforcement authorities have not provided clear answers on this matter so far.

Now, a relative of Ismail Bakhshi in a published interview has announced that during interrogation, he was beaten in the most severe manner possible and struck with a baton on sensitive parts of his body, to the extent that Mr. Bakhshi currently has difficulty walking, sitting, and sleeping. Even his ribs have been damaged and there is a possibility of fractures that require immediate medical treatment.

Previously, it had been reported that Ismail Bakhshi was hospitalized due to beatings. Although this matter was neither denied nor confirmed in this interview, this informed source stated that during detention, drugs were given to Mr. Bakhshi under the name of painkillers, which were actually “psychiatric and nerve drugs.” These drugs were hallucinogenic and their effects persist to this day.

According to this audio file, due to the effects of these drugs, Ismail Bakhshi sometimes experiences hallucinations and thinks he is still in detention. He sometimes experiences fever and chills, and these problems have caused him to withdraw and avoid contact with anyone.

However, security restrictions are another reason for the lack of information about Ismail Bakhshi’s condition. This informed source stated that Ismail Bakhshi and his family have been threatened that they have no right to contact anyone.

He also stated that Mr. Bakhshi has been fired from Haft Tappeh company and his bank accounts have also been frozen. According to this informed source, this worker faces severe financial constraints and therefore has no access to a doctor, even though he needs medical treatment.

Previously, following the escalation of security and judicial measures against workers in Iran, the United States State Department condemned these actions and stated that the regime governing Iran constantly violates people’s rights.

The United Nations has also recently passed a resolution protesting widespread human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Source: Voice of America